Detain Definition
dĭ-tān
detained, detains
verb
detained, detains
To keep from proceeding; delay or retard.
Our friends were detained by heavy traffic.
American Heritage
To keep in custody; confine.
Webster's New World
To keep from going on; hold back.
Webster's New World
To withhold.
Webster's New World
To retain or withhold (payment or property, for example).
American Heritage
Origin of Detain
-
Middle English deteinen from Old French detenir from Vulgar Latin dētenīre from Latin dētinēre dē- de- tenēre to hold ten- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Old French detenir.
From Wiktionary
Detain Is Also Mentioned In
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